ITV has confirmed details of a major scheduling shakeup for its flagship soaps starting from March.
Coronation Street, which currently airs as six half-hour episodes a week, will switch to three hour-long episodes and move to the new time of 8pm to 9pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Emmerdale, meanwhile, currently airs weeknights at 7pm but will move further into peak and broadcast at 7.30pm Monday to Friday, with an additional episode on Thursdays as usual.
The move has been designed to accommodate a new hour-long national news bulletin, airing weeknights from 6.30pm after the regional news, with an increased emphasis on reporting from outside of London.
"With Coronation Street bursting at the seams with fantastic story and character, the new format gives the show a brilliant new canvas on which to shine," said John Whiston, ITV's MD of continuing drama.
"And Emmerdale will do what it does best in this new time slot where viewers can continue to enjoy the dramatic goings on in the Dales."
The news is likely to have a detrimental impact on the BBC's EastEnders, which has already been struggling in the ratings for some time and now faces the prospect of going up against Emmerdale or Corrie on a consistent basis.
Neil Wilkes
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